Animal-trap.



G. J. MILLER.

ANIMAL TRAP. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1908.

r 928,779 Patented July 20, 1969.

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OFFICE GEORGE JOSEPH MILLER, OF MARCO, MONTANA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE JOSEPH MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marco, Dawson county, State of Montana, have invented an Improvement in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is an improvement upon the spring-jaw animal-trap for which I have received Letters-Patent of the United States, No. 809,203, dated January 2, 1906.

The improvement is embodied in certain featuresv whereby the efliciency of the trap is increased and its cost of manufacture re duced.

The details of construction, combination, and operation of parts are as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompany- 111g drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trap with the spring jaws arranged and looked as when the trap is set for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the trap in the sprung or unset condition.

The body 1 of the trap is formed of a thin iron or steel plate, the same having narrow vertical side flanges. Bowshape spring jaws, 2 and 3, are attached at their inner ends to a cross-bolt 4, which passes through the side flanges at a point midway of their length. The said jaws are preferably formed of stout wire and their inner ends are coiled about the pivot 4. In place of forming the latter U-shape as in the invention covered by my aforesaid patent, I make it in the form of a cotter-pin, the same having an eye 5 at one end and the opposite ends 6 being turned outward to prevent withdrawal of the bolt. An anchoring chain 7 is attached to the eye, as shown.

A spiral spring 8 is coiled about the cotterpin and its ends engage the opposite jaws 2 and 3, as will be understood from the drawing. The spring is under tension and holds the jaws pressed flat upon the body 1 of the trap. By employing a single jawpivot 4, and a single spring applied thereto, as shown, I reduce the cost and weight of the trap to an essential degree. When the jaws are raised tothe vertical position as required to set the trap, it is of course against the tension of the spring. The jaws Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1908.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 4643 87.

are locked in this position, shown in Fig. 1, by means of a trigger 9, which serves also as a bait-holder. The same is formed of a tapered metal plate having a hook 9 and an adjacent lengthwise slot 9. The hook 9 engages the jaw 2 and the jaw 3 passes through the slot. The tendency of the jaws to separate from each other under the tension of the spring 8 requires that the lower end of the tripper 9 shall be held from movement to the left or in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 1. I, therefore, provide a stop 10 with which the trigger is in contact when the jaws are set, as shown in Fig. 1. This stop is formed by cutting out a tongue from the body 1 of the trap, a. e. by slitting a portion of the body at a central point and then bending the sameupward and backward into the position indicated.

It is obvious that a mouse, rat, or other animal nibbling at the bait held on the trigger 9, will disengage the latter from the stop 10, and thus instantly spring the trap. In such case, the trigger slides upward, since the hook slips off the jaw 2, while the slot 9 permits the jaw 3 free movement therein.

In my former invention, the trigger was connected with the jaw by means of a ring, but I have found the slot 9 a preferable substitute, not only as regards operation of the trap, but for reducing the cost of manufacture.

When the jaws are sprung, and the animal is caught beneath one or the other, if not instantly killed or disabled, he naturally seeks I to escape by crawling out under the jaw; and to prevent the possibility of escape 1n this manner, I provide each end of the body 1 with a fang 11 which is formed by slitting the body at an angle and bending upward the triangular tongue thus formed. These fangs will ordinarily pierce the skin or body ofthe animal when the trap is sprung, so that he is prevented from movement in any direction.

I/Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination, with the body of a trap, having vertical side flanges, and a stop 10 arranged centrally, and a transverse shaft j ournaled in said flanges, of jaws pivoted on the shaft, and a spring coiled about the shaft and jaws as described,a trigger consisting of a metal plate having at one end a stop 10 formed integrally therewith and closed lengthwise slot through which one of projecting upward from the middle of the 10 thedjalws palsses, ankdfprovided adjacent to body, as shown and described. sai s 0t wit 1 a 1100 or en a 'in the other 5 jaw, as Shown and describe b GEORGE JOSEPH MILLER.

2. The combination of spring-actuated Vitnesses: jaws and a trigger connected therewith in G. T. WILKINSON, the manner described, with a body having a G120. J. THIEssEN. 

